That seemed to be the consensus when people of all ages attended what was turning into a fairly busy open house at the SD&G County Library's branch in Morrisburg on Thursday afternoon to check out the recently-purchased 3-D printer, the Ultimaker2.

"The addition of this 3-D printer to our library's resources is another way that we are striving to foster innovation and discovery in SDG," said Karen Franklin, the director of library services.

"We've been planning for the introduction of a 3-D printer for a while, and we're looking forward to working together with our residents and patrons and learning what this new resource can do."

The 3-D printing technology has become much more accessible over the last few years, and now the purchase of the Ultimaker2 means local library patrons in SDG have access to it.

The Ultimaker2 creates three-dimensional objects by taking plastic in coil form, melting it and printing it in layers. Successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object, the objects of almost any shape or geometry, produced from a 3-D model or other electronic data source.

It's cutting-edge 21st-century technology, and objects on display beside the printer included figurines and toy blocks for kids.

Courtney Riviere, the library's information technology (IT) intern, told people who gathered around the printer that "technology is moving quickly, (and) we're learning more about this printer by trying things out."

The 3-D printer will be permanently housed at the branch in Morrisburg, which is one of the newer library facilities in SDG, inside the South Dundas Municipal Centre that officially opened in the summer of 2014.

"The library has an obligation to bring innovative technology to the public," Franklin said. "It's useful for all ages, (and) it also emphasizes the value of our community library to young people -- they love it."

Franklin noted that the Ultimaker2 was purchased for just under $3,000, and that other branches will eventually be seeing 3-D printers or other pieces of cutting-edge technology coming soon, too.

"It doesn't stop here," she said. "It's all about innovation and discovering at the library."

The 3-D printer at Morrisburg will be available to patrons for a maximum of four hours, with a cost of $1 for 30 minutes of printer usage, and $2 for a project that stretches into a second half-hour.

The Ultimaker2 rollout continues on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m., with a 3-D Printing for Teens session. It's a chance for teens to learn more about the 3-D printer in a program designed just for them.